10 Things You Didn’t Know about the Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla
What Is the Wirehaired Vizsla?
The Wirehaired Vizsla is a dog breed that was developed in Hungary from an older dog breed that can trace its existence to the earliest periods of Hungarian culture. Generally speaking, the Wirehaired Vizsla is not particularly well-known because of its low numbers. However, it has a combination of characteristics that make it well-suited for hunters, which is why it has managed to make some inroads into a number of countries besides Hungary. Something in which it is helped by its cleverness, its friendliness, and its highly trainable nature. Here are 10 things that you may or may not have known about the Wirehaired Vizsla:
1. Shouldn’t Be Mistaken for the Vizsla
The “wirehaired” in Wirehaired Vizsla is important. After all, the Wirehaired Vizsla is based on the Vizsla, which is a Hungarian dog breed that can trace its roots to the Magyars. With that said, while the Vizsla has managed to make it into modern times, it has needed to overcome more than one threat of extinction in order to do so.
2. Developed in the 1930s
Regardless, two men were responsible for developing the Wirehaired Vizsla in the 1930s. Their intent was to create a dog breed that would have the look of the Vizsla but have a heavier coat that made it better-suited for colder temperatures as well as working in water under such environmental conditions.
3. Has Heritage from German Wirehaired Pointer
The Wirehaired Vizsla started out as the product of a union between a couple of female Vizslas with a male German Wirehaired Pointer, which explains its mix of features. With that said, a number of other dog breeds have contributed to the development of the Wirehaired Vizsla over time as more Hungarian dog breeds became involved in the process.
4. Not Backbred From Vizslas
There are some people who have suggested that the Wirehaired Vizsla was backbred by breeding the Vizslas with the heaviest coats with one another. However, the evidence makes it clear that this line of speculation was erroneous.
5. Widespread Recognition
Of course, the Wirehaired Vizsla is a dog breed with widespread recognition, though different countries recognized it at different times. For example, the FCI recognized it in 1986. Meanwhile, the Canadian Kennel Club recognized it in 1977, while its American and Australian counterparts in the United Kennel Club and Australian National Kennel Council recognized it in 2006 and 2007.
6. Rare
In part, the recognition of the Wirehaired Vizsla might have been impacted by its rarity. In short, the Wirehaired Vizsla is not a particularly common dog breed, as shown by the fact that there is an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 of them that can be found in the entire world. Even Hungary is not home to a great many of them, as shown by the fact that around 30 litters are registered on an annual basis.
7. Good for Hunting
Given its origin, it should come as no surprise to learn that the Wirehaired Vizsla is an excellent hunting dog, which is why it has been becoming popular with hunting enthusiasts in a number of countries. In particular, it is interesting to note that the Wirehaired Vizsla is a versatile hunter, which is helped by its intelligence as well as its calm temperament.
8. Needs Stimulation
Naturally, a Wirehaired Vizsla is a dog that does best when it gets plenty of stimulation. Part of this means that such a dog needs plenty of exercise. However, it should also be noted that a Wirehaired Vizsla can benefit a great deal from mental workouts as well, which serve to keep them both happy and healthy. Failure to provide a Wirehaired Vizsla with sufficient physical and mental stimulation can lead to both bad behaviors and mental health problems.
9. Good with Families
On the whole, the Wirehaired Vizsla is a calm dog with a penchant for forming strong bonds with their family members. As a result, they are well-suited as family dogs. In particular, it is amusing to note that Wirehaired Vizslas like to sleep in the same beds as their owners when permitted, with the result that they will burrow beneath the covers.
10. Can Have Heritable Illnesses
Generally speaking, a Wirehaired Vizsla is considered to be a robust dog breed, which makes sense considering its intended function. However, that doesn’t mean that they are exempt from heritable illnesses, which is why dog owners will want to check up on their pets to make sure that they will be well.
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